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Review - Bella |
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Bella (One Moment Can Change Your Life
Forever)
Movie review
by Tom Gilbert — June,
2008
Metanoia Films
www.bellamoviesite.com
Written and directed by Alejandro Monteverde
 Things
happen to everyone in life. Some of what
happens to us can be sudden and life changing.
How we deal with loss, grief, tragedy and
change is often the measure of our faith.
In the beautiful film, Bella,
we have the story of two people. Nina (played by Tammy Blanchard),
is a waitress who gets fired for showing up late two days in a row.
As she had also called in sick one
day the week before her boss thinks she has been drinking too
much and showing up hung over. So he fires her. The truth is
she’s
pregnant and as a young, single and now unemployed woman she’s
distraught and looking at abortion as a solution..
At this same restaurant the chief cook, and brother of the boss,
Jose (played by Eduardo Verastegui) has struggled with a past event
that greatly altered his life. He was once a promising soccer player
about to sign a contract for over two million dollars when in one
sudden accident his life was forever changed (I won’t reveal
the details so as not to spoil the story).
The movie is a tale of wounded hearts, personal crises and ultimately
redemption by celebrating life, love and understanding.
It is rare for a young movie maker, Alejandro Monteverde, who wrote
and directed Bella, to create such a powerfully moving film that
is also technically brilliant. I was impressed with everything about
this small, independent film. I was especially struck by the story,
because it is about faith, compassion and helping others. The characters
are real. The portrayal of Latinos is not cliché or stereotyped.
There is good and there is also humanity. In other words, we also
see human shortcomings and that allows us to see ourselves in this
picture. We all make mistakes, we all struggle and we all need help.
Despite
an unimpressive theatrical run, this movie
has been widely acclaimed (winner of the
People's Choice Award at the 2006 Toronto
Film Festival), and rightly so. It is now
doing well in DVD release and rated #1 at
Yahoo and Fandango. In religious circles
it has been praised, yet it is not a preachy
or even evangelistic film in the sense we’ve
come to expect. When Nina states she plans
to abort her child Jose doesn’t argue
with her or condemn her choice. It’s
clear he doesn’t want her to go through
with the abortion, but he shows compassion
and concern. He asks if she’s considered
adoption as an option. He cares for her and
spends time with her (at the expense of his
own job). He takes her to meet his family
and she shares in a meal. There she experiences
love as well as the drama and humor often
found in such a gathering.
I hope you see this movie. And it would be
wonderful if more movies like this are made.
Metanoia Films made this movie and it is
the dream-come-true from the commitment of
Alejandro Monteverde, Eduardo Verastegui
and Columbian producer Leo Severino, as well
as support from other like-minded believers,
including entrepreneur and producer Sean
Wolfington (see
here). It gives us hope that movies can
be a vehicle of quality art and powerful
messages
of faith, courage and love.
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Scripture taken from the
Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973,
1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights
reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of
International Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks
of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for the offering
of goods or services requires the prior written consent of International
Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All rights
reserved.
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